Fly-flange.



No. 790,280. PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

UNITED STATES Patentea May 23, 1905.

FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER BILLINGS, OF MACON, MISSOURI.

FLY-FLANGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,280, dated May 23, 1905,

Application filed January 80,1905. Serial No. 243,315.

To all whmrb it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER BILLINGS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Macon, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly- Flanges, oi which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in fly-flanges; and it consists of the novel features herein shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure I is a view of a piano-action, showing my improved fly-flange in elevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the flyflange removed from the other parts. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the whip. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing the Whip and the flyflange assembled, the springy nature of the fly-flange being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved fly-flange comprises an attaching-plate 5, the rigid bearing-post 6, extending from the edge of the attaching-plate at right angles, the bearing 7 at the upper end of the post 6, and the yielding post 8, extending downwardly from the bearing. The fly-flange is stamped from sheet metal, such as hard brass, and pressed or bent into the desired shape. The bearing '7 is shorter than the width of the plate 5, and the posts 6 and 8 are tapered from the width of the plate 5 to the length of the bearing 7. It is important that the flange be constructed of hard metal, so that the post 8 will be yielding relative to the post 6 and spring outwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

A rectangular recess 9 is formed in the upper face of the whip 10, said recess being just long enough to receive the liy-flange when the post 8 is pressed against the post 6 and said recess being deeper than the thickness of the plate 5, so that the plate 5 will be firmly seated in the recess. A screw 11 is inserted through the screw-opening12 of the attaching-plate and seated in the body of the whip 10. The fly 13 is bifurcated at its lower end to receive the bearing 7, and the pivot-pin 1 1 connects the fly to the flange. The flange I5 is connected to the main rail 16, and the whip 10 is connected to the flange 15 by the pivot-pin 17.

Heretofore it has been the custom to use wooden flanges and glue the flanges to the Whips, and there has been great difliculty in keeping the flanges in perfect condition. Attention is called to the fact that while my flange is secured by a single screw it is re cessed into the whip so as to be held rigidly in position, and the elasticity provides for swelling or shrinking ol the whip and places a clamping strain upon the pivot-pin 1%, so that the pin will not rattle or shake in the bearing.

The pivot-pin 14 is made a little greater in diameter than that of its seatin the bearing 7,so that when the fiy-flange is seated and the post 8 is pressed against the post 6 the said bearing 7 will be slightly reduced in size and it will tightly clamp the said pivot-pin and prevent rattling, as described in the preceding paragraph.

I claim- The combination with a whip having a recess; of an attaching-plate having a screwopening, a rigid post extending from the attaching-plate, a bearing upon the rigid post; and a yielding post extending from the bearing; said attaching-plate and yielding post being sprung toward each other and then secured Within said recess.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER BILLINGS.

\Vitnesses:

E. A. EIsELE, M. A. SIIAw. 

